Bicycle-lamp



No. s|4,s|s. Patented 'Nov. :5, I898.

c. c. ARMSTRONG.

BICYCLE LAMP.

(Application filed Ahg. so, 1 897.

(No Model.) 2 Shaets-Sheet I.

g3 /92 lNVENTOR BY W WlTNESSES:

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NEY

No.'6|4.3|5. Patented Nov. 15, I898.

C. C. ARMSTRONG.

BICYCLE LAMP.

(Application Med Aug. 30, 1897.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY.

' NITED STATES CHARLES CARROLL ARMSTRONG, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

BlC YCLE -LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,315, dated November 15, 1898. Application filed August 30, 1897. Serial No. 649 976- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES CARROLL ARM- STRONG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycle-Lamps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to the construction of lamps which are used mostly for outdoor purposes and are designed more especially for bicycles, cars, carriages, &c.; and it consists in certain peculiar and novel features of construction and arrangement, as will be fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

The main objects of my, invention are, first, to construct a lamp with a perfect central draft which may be utilized as well on lamps for outdoor as indoor purposes and which will give a steady, strong, and clear light in whatever position it may be thrown or whatever atmospheric conditions it may meet.

A second object of my invention is to so construct my lamp as to avoid and prevent the objectionable smoking and constant accumulation of soot, as heretofore.

A third object is to construct and arrange the parts so as to keep the oil always cool, even when coal-oil or other cheap inferior oils are used.

A fourth object is to so construct the mechanism for raising or lowering the wick as to prevent the wick from being jarred or jolted up or-down except when it is properly operated.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, and in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved lamp. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectionalview of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the chimney proper from the lens side. Fig. 4: is a plan view of the oil-fount. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view in detail of a portion of the oil-fount broken away so as to show one of the radial air-tubes connected with air-pocket at bottom of fount and small sleeve through which passes the wick-shaft. Fig. 6 is a view in detail of the wick-sleeve and shaft or stem for raising and lowering the same and springcatch for retaining said shaft in position in the lamp. Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of upper section of easing which rests over oilfount. Fig. 8 is a plan view of main body of lamp. Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view in detail through the upper and lower sections of the outer or inclosing casing with the oilfount removed, showing the spring snaps and catches.

My improved lamp is suitably supported by means of any ordinary form of hanger,

which is connected to the rear end of main body A, said main body being provided on inside of its rear end with a reflector a, while its forward end a, is preferably bell-shaped, so as to receive the lens and frame I), hinged thereto at one side, while the opposite side is provided with a fiat spring-catch c, a peculiar characteristic of which is that said springcatch is riveted at its rear end to the bellshaped end a of main body A, while its forward end is guarded and protected by passing through a slot of corresponding shape near the bead of bell-shaped end a. Main bodyA has central openings a through which fits and passes chimney D, the shape or contour of said chimney being such that when all the parts of the lamp are together, should it be found necessary at any time, by reason of lamp being so hung that the thumb-piece of wick-shaft would come next to the bicycle wheel or for other reasons, the lamp may be turned in the openings a in said body, thus making a reversible fount without the addition and complication of two wick-shafts, as heretofore. The upper end of chimney D is externally screw-threaded at cl to receive the internally-screw-threaded end e of chimneyhead E, which is formed integral therewith and extends inside thereof in an upward annular flange, which forms a wind-guard e for the purpose of preventing any outside current of cool air which might be caused bya sudden gust of wind coming through the perforated openings 6 from forcing or driving back the heated air or products of combustion which arise from the flame by means of the central draft, as will be hereinafter described, in its passage or egress through annular outlet or opening 6 between cap F and top of head E and the numerous perforated openings e arranged in and around the lower portion of said head. Cap F is attached to chimneyhead E by means of small legs 6 riveted thereto.

It will be observed that the upper portion of chimneyD passes entirely up through the main body A of the lamp, thus helping to condense or confine the current of heated air and products of combustion in their passage to the annular outlet and perforated openings in the top of the lamp, as above described. The two openings (Z' are slightly elliptical in form and are located in opposite sides of chimney D, so as to allow the reflector a to throw the light out through the lens. Two small circular openings d are located in chimney D directly opposite to each other, so that when said chimney is in position these openings will register in a direct line with the two side lights a in the main bodyA and will receive the direct rays of light from the flame.

Chimney D is formed at its bottom with an annular flange d to fit over the upper section 9 of the outside casing G and is securely and detachably connected to said upper section by means of two small spring snaps or catches g, consisting of a pin or catch which passes through a correspondingly shaped opening in said flange and is actuated by a coilspring in the ordinary and well-known manner, so that when said pin or catch is pressed back clear of said opening the chimney may be readily attached or detached. The upper section g of outside casing G is formed with a downwardly-extending annular flange 9 having perforations g therein, through which the air is fed upwardly in a deflected course, as indicated in the drawings by arrows, by means of its peculiar form and the close proximity of the oil-fount, thus preventing too direct and strong a current to the flame. The bottom of annular flange g forms a slip-joint with the lower section 71, at the top of its annular flange h and at a point where these parts come in contact with the annular beadingz' of the oil fount or reservoir I, thus securely holding the upper and lower sections and the oil-fount together and in position. The flat top or disk of said upper section is provided Wit-l1 numerous perforations 9 through which passes the main portion of the current of cool air on its upwardly-deflected course from the inlet holes or perforations g and is carried up through the chimney in a circular current and uniting with the central draft, thus carrying all products of combustion and heated air and smoke out through the annular outlet 6 and openings (2 as heretofore described, the course of these currents being indicated in the drawings by arrows. Asmall portion of this current of cool air, as just above described, passes up through very small perforations g in flat top g of neck 57 0f upper section g. Said flat top of neck has a small downwardly-extending annular flange g which forms a tight firm slip-joint over the flat head i of neck 2' of oil-fount I and helps to control the flame and regulate the volume of light and then passes up and joins the main portion. of said current of air, as described. I preferably construct the neck 2' so as to extend not quite up to the top of neck 9 thus acting as a gutter and preventing any undue overflow of oil. Another portion of said current of cool air passes down through the radial air-tubes J, said air-tubes being of any suitable number, although I preferably use four, and converge or radiate directly from the top in a downwardly-inclined position, passing entirely through the oil-fount, thus constantly keeping the oil cool (see the arrows) and connecting with the air pocket or chamber 70, formed by the concave form of the bottom v? of said oil-fount. Thence said current of cool air, after passing into the air pocket or reservoir, is again carried up through the oilfount by passing up through central drafttube L, which is formed integral with the oil-fount and in connection with the other portions of the current, as described, thus steadying and regulating the flame and cansing a more perfect light, and, uniting with the other portions of the current of air, carries the heated air and products of combustion off, as described, thus causing a perfect central draft.

Oil-fount I is provided in its top with a small filler t the top cap of which forms a slip-joint in opening of upper section and through which the oil is poured into the fount.

WVick-tube 2' is formed integral or soldered to neck i of the oil-fount and extends down into the oil-fount, so as to facilitate the even distribution or feeding of the oil to the flame. Tick-sleeve R is formed with small barbteeth 0" on its outside, so as to grip or grasp the wick, which I prefer should be of felt and in a strip and be bent around said sleeve and located between the sleeve and wick-tube t. The wick-sleeve R raises or lowers the Wick by means of two vertical slots Z, located opposite to each other and extending down a sufficient distance in draft-tube L to receive a cross-bar 0'', extending across the sleeve on its inside near the top. Cross-bar 7- has a depending rack-bar 7' formed with gearing or teeth at its end, in which meshes the fluted or pinioned end m of the wick shaft or stem on, which is protected from the oil in fount I by passing through a small sleeve a, formed with the oil fount and passing entirely through it to the air-pocket it.

Near a thumb-knob m on the outer end of wick-shaft m is cut an annular groove m in which when in position rests one of the two flat spring-catchesp, (see dotted lines in Fig. 1 and solid lines in Fi 9,) which are located one on each side of the upper sect-ion g and depend, by reason of being riveted, on the inp bearing with sufficient firmness in the an side thereof, and when the upper and lower sections 9 and h are forced together and held by means of the beading on their flanges these flat spring-catches snap over the beaded portion, thus holding the two sections together, while one holds the wick-shaft in position, as will be described.

It will be readily seen that by reason of the edge or side of one of the flat spring-catches nular groove in in the Wick-shaft m and by passing the wick-shaft through the sleeve 4% and fluting the end of said wick-shaft (instead of employing the ordinary pinion) and cutting the gear-teeth on the rack-bar, as shown, it will be practically impossible for any ordinary sudden jar or jolt to cause the wick to be raised or lowered, as the rack-bar will always have a tendency to exert an even and direct pressure on the wick-shaft, and said shaft being already held firmly in its position it can only be properly operated by turning the thumb-knob m I do not limit myself to the exact style or form of the several parts of the lamp, as they may be varied somewhat without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having now described my lamp, what I claim as my invention and as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a bicycle-lamp, the combination with an oil-fount havinga bead extending around its outer surface, of an inclosing casing or shell comprising an upper section provided.

with air-openings and a neck having a flat perforated top, and having a slip-joint connection with the neck of the oil-fount, and a lower section, said two sections making a slipjoint over the head of the oil-fount.

2. The combination with an oil-fount for lamps, provided on its under side with a central air-pocket, of a central draft-tube communicating at its lower end with said air-' pocket, a series of air-tubes disposed radially around said central draft-tube, communicating at their lower ends with the air-pocket and open at their upper ends, and an inclosing casing surrounding the oil-fount and provided with air inlets for admitting currents of air between the casing and oil-fount, and to the upper ends of said radial air-tubes.

3. The combination with an oil-fount provided with a concave bottom which constitutes an air-pocket, of a central draft-tube communicating with said pocket, a series of radiallydisposed air-tubes communicating at their lower ends with said pocket and open at their upper ends, an inclosing casing surrounding the fount and provided with airopenings, and connected to the fount so as to leave an air-space between the fount and casing, a neck projecting from the fount, and a wick-tube secured within said neck.

4. In a bicycle-lamp, a chimney provided with two openings to throw the rays of light from the reflector and lens; two small openings to throw the rays of light from the reflector and side lights; a flanged bottom; an externally-sorew-threaded top to receive the internally-sorew-threaded head; said chimney passing entirely up through the main body of the lamp, thereby operatingto condense the upward current of heated air and products of combustion, and resting in openings in the main body sufficiently tight to be retained in operative position and yet to allow of the lamp being turned, thus making a reversible fount.

5. In a lamp, the combination with an oilfount provided on its outer surface with a continuous bead, and with an air-space at its bottom, of a central draft-tube communicating with. said air-space, a casing or shell inclosing the fount and comprising independent sections which engage each other and the bead on the fount, the upper section of the casing being provided with air-openings and so arranged in position to the fount as to form an annular air-space between the two parts, and air-tubes connecting said annular air-space with the air-space at the bottom of the fount.

6. In a lamp, the combination with an oilfount provided with an air-pocket at its bottom, of a central draft-tube communicating at its lower end with said pocket, a casing or shell inclosing the fount and comprising an upper and a lower section, said upper section having air-inlet openings and so connected with the fount as to leave an annular airspace between the two parts, air-tubes connecting said annular space with said airpocket, and a filling-tube which is secured within openings formed in the top of the fount and in the upper section of the inclosing casing.

7. The combination with the wick-sleeve barbed on its outer surface, of a cross-bar arranged within the sleeve and provided with a depending toothed bar, a shaft having a thumb-piece at one end and fluted at its opposite end to engage the toothed bar, and provided with an annular groove and a springcatch adapted to engage said groove.

8. In a lamp, the combination with the oilfount provided with an annular bead, of an inclosing casing comprising an upper and a a lower section, said sections having a slipjoint connection with the bead on the fount, a chimney provided with a depending flange engaging the upper section of the casing, and oppositely-disposed spring-controlled pins arranged within the upper casing-section, and extending through alined openings in the upper casing-section and the flange of the chimney.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES CARROLL ARMSTRONG.

Witnesses:

Mrs. M. F. GROSVENOR, C. F. GROSVENOR. 

